How short is life...

 As I sat in the funeral home, it hit me. Who are these people, I asked my self? Then it really hit, the only time I see these folks are when someone passes on. How sad is that? 

 Every family is nuts in my book. You could find twenty things to talk about mine, and I bet I could find twenty five on yours. But instead of starting there, let me take you all back with me about thirty to thirty five years ago...shall we?

 On a Sunday afternoon, as you walked to the house, the instant smell of the coal stove was there. Upon entering, you could smell food, hear all the folks talking and tons of laughter coming from the living room, where we would all meet by a warm morning stove that was in there. Horse figurines, and photos where in a side room to the left, where all of us kids would be. Soon, we would be out side playing. A few of us in the yard, and a few being naughty down at the railroad tracks. Be we knew who each other was. Young to old, Aunts and Uncles, we knew. First and second cousins playing right where we had left off from the past Sundays before. I can remember the men playing cards, and the ladies in the kitchen helping my Grandma with the meal. After you ate, we had about an hour or so of playtime left, then back to home. 

 Now, if I fast forward a bit, it was the day that started it all. My Grandma had passed away. From that day on, the family seem to drift apart. What was once a close, strong knit group, was now not. 

I had heard bits of who was mad at who, or this one did this or that to this one. But I never took the time to call, stop in, or anything. Why should I, that is what I always thought. No one calls me, why should I call them. I'll tell y'all why I should of took the time, it's bad enough that my wife and kids didn't know these folks, but at the same time, I didn't either.

I've shared before with y'all about my parents passing on, well, my two brothers and I have allowed ourselves drift apart too. Why is it that we do this? Is it that we are too busy on ourselves, making money, our own family's...what is it? 

If I have family that reads this, I  sorry for falling short on my end, life is short and we all need one another. We may not think so at times, but we do. With that said, I will try to do better on my end..,

Big Man Out

Tank